Labor

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #173, 9th August 2026

Weekly roundup: Firmus completes its $2.85b round; Procore acquires DroneDeploy; Atlassian rebounds while Canva cuts guidance; plus fresh raises for Zabidou, BioScout, Vexev, Enrola, Spacetalk and others.

Also Dealroom·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #161, 17th May 2026

Weekly roundup: two acquisitions — Humankind buys management trainer The Mintable, NAB buys payments firm Banked — alongside a large government innovation spend, investor tax changes and a new AI accelerator.

Also Dealroom

YieldX | with La Trobe University's Eagle Fund BREAKTHROUGH VICTORIA CO-INVESTS IN AGTECH COMPANY FOR EARTH AND SPACE VIA ITS UNIVERSITY INNOVATION PLATFORM PARTNERSHIP... Read 28 Mar 2025

AgTech firm YieldX has attracted a $1.7 million round, with Breakthrough Victoria and La Trobe University's Eagle Fund contributing $500,000 apiece alongside Mandalay Venture Partners and LaunchVic's Hugh Victor McKay Fund.

“Shell companies for rent seekers:” Coalition attacks solar innovators, including Turnbull-backed SunDrive

A federal opposition senator attacks Labor's solar manufacturing program and SunDrive, which has cut staff and changed CEO while pursuing partnerships with AGL and Trina Solar to localise panel production.

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Briefs roundup: Forbidden Foods is acquiring oat milk maker Oat Milk Goodness alongside a $650,000 raise, Orbital Corporation wins a $1 million WA grant, and Sam Roberts becomes Professionals Australia's CEO.

Why we need to fight for the “community” in community batteries

A Geni.Energy author reflects on its federally funded Narrabri community battery trial, covering delivery costs, retail ambitions, tariff negotiations with the local network owner, and why community groups must stay involved.

Labor to target Taylor’s role in grants given to gas company with Liberal Party links

Labor plans to refer $21 million in Beetaloo grants to gas company Empire Energy to the audit office over Energy Minister Taylor's involvement, but won't yet back the Greens' move to abolish the program.

Federal funding for coal power station feasibility study referred to watchdog

Department officials walk back Coalition coal funding promises, say no decisions made

Federal officials told a senate estimates hearing that no taxpayer money has been committed to a Collinsville coal plant study or to AGL's Liddell generator, despite earlier government announcements suggesting otherwise.